*New customers only. One-time use per customer. Order must be placed by 1/31/2019. The $30 discount is given for a single order with a minimum of $100 excluding shipping and tax. Items with pricing ending in .97 are excluded and will not count toward the minimum required. Discount does not apply to corporate orders, gift certificates, StewardShip membership fees, select Champagne brands, Riedel glassware, fine and rare wine, and all bottles 3.0 liters or larger. No other promotion codes, coupon codes or corporate discounts may be applied to order.

Winemaker Notes

Fragrant aromas of cherry, cassis and mocha immediately please the nose and intermingle effortlessly with raspberry and cranberry notes. Bold flavors of boysenberry, black pepper and rich chocolate fill out the palate and are complimented by silky tannins a long finish.

Critical Acclaim

Raymond Vineyard

For generations, Raymond Vineyards has been an integral part of the Napa Valley, with now five generations of viticultural and winemaking expertise. Our new winemaking team captures the essence of the past while infusing the energy of the future and the vibrancy of the next generation into each and every wine. “It is important to retain the core foundation that made this brand legendary in Napa Valley, while keeping the style fresh and relevant to today’s wine drinkers” says Stephanie Putnam.

In addition to our top-notch winemakers and viticulturalists, Raymond has also tapped into a world-renowned winemaker, Phillipe Melka, to assist on our high-end Cabernets and complement the inherent strengths of the team.

As for a specific style, the team aims for the three B’s – Big, Bold, Balanced – yet with refinement and elegance. This philosophy lends itself well to the underlying principal of terroir that dates back thousands of years where the interrelationship between soil, climate, and plant are enhanced by the passion of people to convey an authentic sense of place. Our winemaking team allows the purest expression of the fruit to reign, with aromas and flavors that fill your glass and your palate with wines that are unmistakably powerful, intriguingly complex, and beautifully integrated.

Napa Valley

One of the world's most highly regarded regions for wine production as well as tourism, the Napa Valley was responsible for bringing worldwide recognition to California winemaking. In the 1960s, a few key wine families settled the area and hedged their bets on the valley's world-class winemaking potential—and they were right.

The Napa wine industry really took off in the 1980s, when producers scooped up vineyard lands and planted vines throughout the county. A number of wineries emerged, and today Napa is home to hundreds of producers ranging from boutique to corporate. Cabernet Sauvignon is definitely the grape of choice here, with many winemakers also focusing on Bordeaux blends. Napa whites are usually Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Merlot

An easy-going red variety with generous fruit and a supple texture, Merlot’s subtle tannins make it perfect for early drinking and allow it to pair with a wide range of foods. But the grape also has enough stuffing to make serious, world-renowned wines. One simply needs to look to Bordeaux to understand Merlot's status as a noble variety. On the region’s Right Bank, in St. Emilion and Pomerol, it dominates in blends with Cabernet Franc. On the Left Bank in the Medoc, it plays a supporting role to (and helps soften) Cabernet Sauvignon—in both cases resulting in some of the longest-lived and highest-quality wines in the world. They are often emulated elsewhere in Bordeaux-style blends, particularly in California’s Napa Valley, where Merlot also frequently shines on its own.

In the Glass

Merlot is known for its soft, silky texture and approachable flavors of ripe plum, red and black cherry and raspberry. In a cool climate, you may find earthier notes alongside dried herbs, tobacco and tar, while Merlot from warmer regions is generally more straightforward and fruit-focused.

Perfect Pairings

Lamb with Merlot is an ideal match—the sweetness of the meat picks up on the sweet fruit flavors of the wine to create a harmonious balance. Merlot’s gentle tannins allow for a hint of spice and its medium weight and bright acidity permit the possibilities of simple pizza or pasta with red sauce—overall, an extremely versatile food wine.

Sommelier Secret

Since the release of the 2004 film Sideways, Merlot's repuation has taken a big hit, and more than a decade later has yet to fully recover, though it is on its way. What many viewers didn't realize was that as much as Miles derided the variety, the prized wine of his collection—a 1961 Château Cheval Blanc—is made from a blend of Merlot with Cabernet Franc.